Feed, take-up, and stripper mechanism for encapsulating machines



July 24, 1951 c. c. ALVORD 2,561,900

FEED, TAKE-UP, AND STRIPPER MECHANISM FOR ENCAPSULATING MACHINES Filed Aug. 8, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 SL 708 J5 ITlVerIfOf CHAR/.55 C. A LVURD July 24, 1951 c. c. ALVORD 3 2,561,900

FEED, TAKE-UP, AND STRIPPER MECHANISM FOR ENCAPSULATING MACHINES Filed Aug. 8, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 2 I86 203 788 L90 I89 1.2a 206 195 192: 790 I 7 2 33 794 1'19] 105 Invenhr 759 75 13/ CHARLES E. ALVUR'D 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 emx I -UP, AND STRIPPER MECHANISM E. 51W LEE 5'. ALVUR'IU 740 C HA R FOR ENCAPSULATING MACHINES C. C. ALVORD FEED TAKE July 24, 1951 Filed Aug. 8, 1950 Patented July 24, 1951 FEED, TAKE-UP, AND STRIPPER MECHA- NISM FOR ENCAPSULA'TIN G MACHINES Charles C. Alvord, Worcester, Mass., assignor to Norton Company, Worcester, Mass., a. corporation of Massachusetts Application August 8, 1950, Serial No. 178,335

12 Claims. (01. 18-1) The invention relates to a feed, take-up and stripper mechanism for encapsulating machines.

One object of the invention is to provide a reliable stripper mechanism to remove capsules from the network of gelatin from which they were formed. Another object ofthe invention is to provide a simple and practical mechanism of the type indicated. Another object of the invention is to provide a stripper mechanism which can be readily opened up for threading the machine. Another object of the invention is to provide an easily adjustable stripper mechanism and one which can be quickly opened up for threading the machine. Another object of the invention is to provide, in an encapsulating machine, feed rolls and take-up rolls moving intermittently and a stripper mechanism advantageously timed to such intermittent motion.

Other objects will be in part obvious or in part pointed out hereinafter.

In the accompanying drawings illustrating one of many possible embodiments of the mechanical features of this invention:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a portion of an encapsulating machine illustrating the feed rolls, take-up rolls and stripper mechanism;

Figure 2 is a rear elevation of a portion of the encapsulating machine showing the driving motor and part. of the driving transmission;

Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional view on an enlarged scale taken on the line 33 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is an elevation on a larger scale than that of Figure 2 of more of the transmission;

Figure 5 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 1;

Figure 6 is a vertical sectional view on an enlarged scale taken on the line 6-6 of Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 1-! of Figure 3;

Figure 8 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line B8 of Figure '7 showing the details of the stripper;

Figure 9 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 99 of Figure 1;

Figure 10 is an elevation of the stripper mechanism in open position.

The frame of the encapsulating machine includes a platform 20 to which is secured an upstanding panel 2l. Referring now to Figure 2, supported by the platform 20 and suitably secured in place is an electric motor 22 having reduction gearing in a casing 23. The output shaft 24 of the gearing in the casing 23 has secured thereto a gear 25 which meshes with a gear 26 on a shaft 21 which extends into a casing 28 secured to the platform 20. In the casing 28 is reduction gearing, not shown, such as a worm on the shaft 27 and a worm wheel on an output shaft 3| to which is secured a sprocket 32 driving a chain 33 which drives a sprocket 34 secured to a shaft 35 rotatably mounted in bearings 36 in a bracket 31 secured to the platform 20.

Referring now to Figure 4, also secured to the shaft 35 is another. sprocket 40.. Secured to a shaft 4| extending through the panel 2| is a sprocket 42 and secured to a shaft 43 likewise extending through the panel 2| is a sprocket 44. A sprocket chain 45 extends around, the three sprocket gears 40, 42 and 44 and since the sprocket gear is driven from the motor 22 at reduced speed the chain 45 is driven and drives, the sprockets 42 and 44,the direction of drive being shown by the arrow in Figure 4. An idler sprocket 46 is mounted on a pin 4'! in a bracket 48 having a slot 49 through which pass screws 50 (only one shown) extending into the panel 21 there being washers 5| on the screws 50 and by loosening and retightening the screws 50 the sprocket 46 can be adjusted to take out the slack in the chain 45.

Still referring to Figure 4, secured to the shaft 43 is a disc or block which has a slideway 56 on the exposed face thereof. In this slideway 56 is a slide block 57 projecting from which is a pin 58. On the pin 58 is a link 59 the other end of which is on a pin 60 in the forked end of an arm 6! secured to a shaft 62. The slide block 51 can be adjusted in the slideway 56 by means of a screw 63 extending into a threaded hole in the block 5'! and passing through a block 65 rigidly secured to the disc 55, the screw 63 having a bolt head 66 and a collar 61 for the purpose of turning it and preventing axial movement relative to the block 55. At the other end of the slide-' way 56 is another fixed block 68 through which extends a screw 69 to tighten the, slide block 51 in any position to which it may be moved by the screw 63. In this manner; by first loosening the screw 69, then turning the screw 63, the pin 58 can be placed coaxial with the shaft 43 in which case the link 59 will not move at all, or at any radial distance from the axis of the shaft 43 up to the total permissive limit of movement as clearly shown in Figure 4, and after the adjustment ismade, the block 57 can belocked in'position by retightening the screw 69. This mechanism therefore causes oscillations of the shaft 62 responsive to rotation of the sprocket 44 and shaft 43, and the magnitude of the oscillations of the shaft-62 canbe. adjusted from zero to a certain maximum amount by adjusting the position of the slide block 51 as described.

A wholly similar mechanism is provided to connect the rotating shaft M to oscillate a shaft 12 and it will be sufficient, in view of the above description, merely to identify the various parts. A disc or block 15 is secured to the shaft M and has a slideway IS in which is a slide block 'II having a pin 18 on which is a link 19 connected to a pin 80 in the forked end of an arm BI secured to the shaft I2. A screw, not shown, similarto the screw 63 extends through a block 35 and has a bolt head 86 and this screw is in threaded engagement with the block I! and can be used to adjust the position of the block Tl. fixed block 88 extends a locking screw 89.

Referring to Figures 4 and 5, supporting the shaft 52 is a bracket 95 which is fastened to the panel 2I. The shaft 5'2 is journalled in this bracket 95 and also in the back wall 06 of a frame 01 for the encapsulating 'mechanism which, as shown in Figure 1, is secured to the panel 2I by means of screws 98.

On the shaft 52 and secured thereto is a gear I which meshes with a gear IBI secured to the outer ring I02 of an overruning clutch I03 adapted to transmit motion in one direction only. The inner ring, not shown, of the overrunning clutch I03 is connected to a shaft I04 which is journalled in the back wall 95 and also in a bracket I051; secured to the front wall I05 of the frame 51 and this shaft I04 extends through the panel 2I. Referring now to Figures 5 and 6, keyed to the shaft I04 by means of a key I06 is the inner ring I01 of an overrunning clutch I08 just like the overrunning clutch I03. The outer ring I09 of the overrunning clutch I08 has an extension IIO into a bore III in the bracket 105a. This extension I I0 has a long bore therein receiving a sleeve I I2 which forms the actual journal for the end of the shaft I04 which thereby, indirectly, is journalled in the bracket I05a. A key H3 in a keyway 4 backed up by a screw II5 holds the extension IIO and therefore the ring I09 from turning.

Between the outer ring I09 and the inner ring I01 are a plurality of sprags IIB which act just like pawls pivoted to one part and bearing against ratchet teeth in the other part except for the fact they look the parts together in any position and therefore in an infinite number of relative positions instead of in a finite number number of positions as in the case of a ratchet and pawl mechanism. Each of the sprags [I6 is slotted at each end and extendin through the slots are endless springs II'I which keep the sprags H6 in engagement with the surfaces.

The overrunning clutch I03 is the same as the overrunning clutch I08 so it is not necessary further to described the details of clutch I03. The clutch I08 allows the shaft I04 to be turned in a counter-clockwise direction looking from the right of Figures 5 and 6 but prevents it from being turned in a clockwise direction. The gear I00 oscillates because of the oscillations of the shaft 02, and this causes the gear IOI to oscillate which oscillates the outer ring I02. Every oscillation in a counter-clockwise direction viewed from the right of Figure 5 drives the shaft I04 while the oscillations in the clockwise direction are nondriving oscillations. The pair of overrunning clutches I03 and I08 therefore function like driving pawls and holding pawls with ratchets. Retrograde movement of the shaft I04 is positively prevented while forward movement thereof is Through a positively effected and due to the particular nature of these overrunning clutches there is no lost motion or backlash. It is believed to be unnecessary to give any fuller description of the overrunning clutches since they are now well known in the art and in fact are readily available on the market.

Referring now to Figure 4, secured to the shaft 12 which is suitably journalled in the back wall 96 is a gear I which meshes with a gear I2I. Referring now to Figures 3 and 7, the gear I2I is secured to the outer ring I22 of an overrunning clutch I just like the clutches I03 and I08. The inner ring E24 of this overrunning clutch I23 is secured to a shaft I25 which is journalled in a bearing I25 in the back wall 96 and extends through the front wall I05 and a plate I28 fastened thereto. Secured to the shaft I25 is the inner ring I30 of an overrunning clutch I3I, the same as the others already mentioned, having an outer ring I32 with an extension I33 extendin through and secured to the plate I28. In this manner the shaft I25, the same as the shaft I04, is driven intermittently. I prefer to cause the shaft I25 to start moving about 45 before the shaft H34 starts to move, but this timing can be varied.

Referring now to Figures 5 and 6, mounted on and secured to the shaft I54 is a sleeve I35 having integral disc-like portions I35 which preferably have knurled or roughened peripheries. Secure-d to the shaft I04 is a gear I38 which meshes with a gear I39 secured to a shaft I40. The shaft its is journalled in the back Wall 95 and also in the bracket Iii5a through which it extends. Mounted on and secured to the shaft I45 is a sleeve I45 having integral disc-like portions E40 also with knurled or roughened peripheries. These sleeves I35 and I with their integral disc-like portions I30 and I46 constitute feed rollers to feed gelatin ribbons I50 which are formed in a manner not necessary to be described herein. Each ribbon constitutes the material for one half of the casings of the multitudes of capsules which the machine produces. The filling material is pumped through pipes I5I which extend between successive disc-like portions we and Hill as shown in Figure 5 and these disc-like portions shape the ribbons I50 into tubes around the pipes I5I, each ribbon I providing the material for one half of many tubes, for example five as indicated in Figure 5. The mechanism for pumping the filling material which is to go into the tubes forms no part of the present invention. On the front end of the shaft I40 may be affixed, removably if desired, a hand crank I53 by means of which the feed rollers can be turned in a forward direction at any time. By forward direction I mean to move the ribbons I50 downward. This is useful for setting up the machine, that it to say for threading it.

Referring now to Figure l, journalled in the plate I20, which as shown therein is fastened by screws L55 to the front wall I55, is a bearing member I55 having a slot 151 through which extends .a screw I50 into the plate I28 by means of which the bearing member I56 can be fastened in angularly adjustable positions. This adjustment is for the purpose of adjusting by a slight amount the position of a stop block portion I59 integral with the bearing member I50. Journalled in the bearing member I56 and concentric with it is a short cylindrical member I50. Rigidly secured to the short cylindrical and I65.

.shown in that figure.

I62 is moved upwards in a clockwise direction 10.

the shaft I6I is moved away from the shaft I25. Referring to Figure 8, the rear end of the long shaft I6I is fastened toa short cylindrical member I65 which is axially aligned'with theshort cylindrical member I60 and is journalledin the back wall 96. That is to say the bearing bore in theback wall 96 for the short cylin' drical member I65 is aligned -axially with -the-* bearing bore in the member I56 which journals' the member I60. The parts I60, I6I and-l65f20 move as aunit but the shaft I6I is decidedly eccentric to the cylindrical members I60" Secured to the shaft I is a take-up-roller sleeve I61 preferably having a knurled surface. 25.

This sleeve is shown in full in Figure 7 and a" portion of it is shown in Figure 3. Also secured to the shaft I25 as best. shown in Figure 7 'is' a gear I68. This gear I68 is adapted to mesh with a gear I69 a fragment of which is shown" in" Figure 3 the. gear I69 being secured to thetakeup roller I10 also preferably havinga knurled surface; A portion of this take-up rollerHIl is visible in Figure 3-. This take-up roller'sleeve I10 is rotatably mounted on the shaft I6I". It will now' be seen that by moving the pin' I62 the roller I10 can be withdrawn from the .roller I61 for threading the machine and when this is done the gears I 68 and I69 simply un-' mesh. When the machine is threaded returri=40 ing the pin I62 against the stop block'portion I59 brings the rollers I61 and I10 close together again to grip the ribbons jIM now known as network because at this point the capsules'have' justment of the space between the rollers. l61 and I10 can be made as above described. Ijwillf: now describe the mechanism for removing the" finished capsules which is more particularly the-j subject of the present invention. Referring now to Figure 10, secured onfthe' shaft 35 is a cam I80 which conveniently" can be made in two parts I8I and I82 secured together by bolts I83, the part I 8| being in this case approximately 180 of thecam' being of, one radius, and the part I82 having three lobes" I84. These may, as shown, be about 6 0'apart. Referring now to Figure 3, the frame 191'has side Walls, the right-hand side wall I95 being.

welded rods I90. The front rod I90 has there 652 on a block I9I which is secured in placeby means of a screw I92. Referring nowv to Figures i -and 10, a roller I93 is rotatably mounted on a stud- I9 I which extends through a portion of the block I 9| and is secured thereto as by means 'm;

of .a nut I95. 'This roller I93 is a camroller which is actuated by the lobes I 94 of the cam I and therefore, during one revolution'of the shaft 35, the front rod I is raised three times Secured to the outside an:

son 6f theconnection of the rear rod'I90 with the'rocls-I90 by means of set screws 200 are blocks- 20I.' These blocks 21 have upstanding split portions: 202-"through bores in which extend set screws-203 which'can be adjusted and then looked in place by clamping screws 204 extending through the split portions 202.

Slidablymounted on the front rod I90 is a long I block-205 which hasv a long bore through which the rod I90 extends. This block 205 is urged to the left by means of a spring 206 on the rod I 90 extending between the block 205 and the block ISL-wand normally an upstanding portion 201 of the block 205 abuts the set screw 203 in theupstanding portion 202 on the front rod. I 90, butFigure -10shows the parts in open position with the upstanding portion 201 spaced fromthe setscrew 203. The rear rod I90 passes through a short-block-z I0 having an upstanding portion 2I I to abut the screw 203 in the upstanding portion 202 on the rear rod I90, and the block 2I0 has horizontal play on the rod I90 rather than having'aclosesliding fit in the horizontal plane. A spring 2I2 on'the rear rod I90 extends between the block 2I0- and acollar 2I3 and thus urges the block-'2 I 0 to the left to cause the upstanding portion'2II to engage the set screw 203..

Referring now to Figures 3, 8 and 10, there is a downwardly-extending slot 2I5 in each of the upstanding portions 201 and 2H and from the one to the-other extends a taut wire 2I6 which is clamped in these slots 2I6 by screws 2" exvIalso provide strippers 22I each of which is made of 'sheet'metal or otherreasonably stiff I sheet material and has a straight stripper edge been formed and removed therefrom. Fine ad-'- 5 capsulesaway from the network I50 and to cause 50 them to fall' into suitable receivers 225 (see Figure" 1). The left-hand stripper of the strippers 22Iis-weldedto the underside of each block 20I which is cut at an angle as shown. The front of the right-hand stripper 22I is welded to the'underside of the longblock 205 and the rear of the right handstripper 22I is welded to the undersideof'the shortblock 2H1, these blocks 295 and 2H] being'als'o cut at an angle as shown.

I further-provide mechanism for moving the right-handstripper 22! from the position shown in Figure '8 to the'position shown in Figure 10 to facilitate'the' threading of the machine. This mechanism is illustrated in Figures '7, 8, 9 and 10. As shown in Figure 7, a horizontal shaft 230 is journalled in the back wall 96 and in the front wall I05 and extends between them. ,Clamped to the shaft 230 which extends through it is a gooseneck arm 23I' which has a slot 232 across which extends a screw'233 .to effect the clamping. The gooseneck arm 23I has an upper forked end 234 which straddles the front rod I90 and can be brought to: bear against the left-hand end of the long block 205, Figures 8 and 9. The gooseneck arm -23.I .has, asshown in Figure 10, anvinand allowed to fall after. each rise and,- by .reaei 76; tegrallextensioni235.-.to,.the right having a boss the rear-rod I 90 also rises three times and moves shaft-248 extending; throughend journalledaini the :front wall Hi5, the pin 245being engaged by the-eccentric- 2% whenever a knurled. knob 249 is: turnedto the right, Figure-1. A stop-pin. 25!! extending from the eccentric zlllrengages'thc 'pim 245 when it reaches the position: shown in Fig--- ure'lo-in which position the eccentric 246:.has

forced-the pin 2&5 downwardly torock the gooseneck arm 231i to its extreme limit in aclockwise.

direction-whereby the upper forked end 234 has it-5 to' the right on the the knurled knob 249 forced the long block front rod itil. When turned to the left, Figure moved'back until it'engages'a fixedpini ex-- tending rearwardly from the front wall. li and: thereuponthe eccentric 248- having moved well away from-the pin 255, the spring239'moves' the gooseneckarm 23! in a counter-clockwise direction thus allowing the spring 206 to repositionthe long block 2835.

Referring now to Figure 8; secured'tothe horizontal shaft 236' nearthe' back wall 98 isanothen gooseneck arm 255 being inshapelike the gooseneck arm 23l only it has no integral extension 235. This gooseneck arm 255 through which the shaft. 236 extends has a slot 256 across which ascrew 25'! extends to effect the clamping. action. This gooseneck arm Z55 likewise has anupper forked. end 258 straddling the rearrod i9fl and adapted to engage the left-hand end of theblock 210-. It. will readily be seen that whenever the gooseneck arm 2% is moved, the gooseneck armiBimust whenever the-block 2 05 is. its rod I90, the block. 210

likewise move, and thus moved. to the right on must likewise move, and so therefore by turning, the knurled knob 249 to the right, the stripper -wire2l6- and the right-hand stripper. 2.21 are. moved. away from the left-hand stripper-22l thus, to permit threading of the machine, and. .thereafter, by turningthe knurled knob ZBB to theleft, the stripper wire 2 Hi and the right-hand stripper 221 are returned to operative position. H

The block 205 has a bevel or cam portion. which, when the knurled knob:249.' is turnedto. the right, engages the fixedpin 25l thereby. lifting the rods we thus raising thetautwire ale and the additional strippers 22f and? carrying, 18 so the roller I93 just clear of the cam lobes. that, when the stripper mechanism is .thusopened up for threading the machine, the strippers are motionless.

In the cycle of operation, when the take-up rollers 16'! and H0 stop, the strippers. are up Immediately thereafter they move downwardly, as. the last lobe 18s passes beyond the-roller. I93. When the take-up rollers stop, the encapsulating...

mechanism not shown or described. hereinop erates to form the capsules 220 and during. opteration'. of. the encapsulating. mechanism the; strippers are down. About beforathe: com-*- pletion of the operation of the/encapsulating mechanism at the end of .1 which: operationlthel 75. together with 1, the stop pin 250 is:-

capsulesiflo are cut from the network 150, the v take-up rollers I61 andl'lfl start moving. Fortyfive degrees after the start of the take-up rollers,

which is 10 after the encapsulating and severing,v

ing which is 10 before the feed rollers start mov ing, the strippers start to move upwardly by. engagement of the first lobe I84 with the roller 193. Thus it will be seen that the three rising and falling motions of the strippers including the taut wire 2 it are accomplished for the most part while-the take-up rollers and the feed rollers are 3 moving. Thus as the strippers rise the network I- is moving downwardly and'this materially helps to dislodge the capsules 22.0. In the above description the reference to degrees ofmovement is based upon the rotation of the shaft 35; thus one complete rotation of the shaft 35 represents 360 The gear ratios of the gearing hereinbefore' described isselected sov that the take-up rollers, move about one-third to one-half further during.

eachcycle of operation than do the feed rollers. This ratio can bevaried as desired by adjustment of the screw 63 and the screw-not shown having the bolt head S16. It-is advantageous to cause thetake-up rollers to move farther than the feed rollers asthis stretches the network during encapsulation and facilitates the formation of the The take-up rollers it? and lit are.

capsules.

for thisreason frequently referred to as tension rollers. 1 I It is particularly advantageous to time the stripping mechanism to operate only when the encapsulating mechanism is not acting upon the ribbons or network. Otherwise, the contact of the strippers with the capsules disturbs the tension of the network which can result in the production of ofi-size capsules or misshaped capsules.

The action of the encapsulating mechanism is synchronized-tothe feeding and taking up of the ribbons and network and therefore by timing. the stripping to feeding and taking up I have.

effectually avoided disturbance of the network dur'ingi, encapsulation. Furthermore there are positive advantages in'operating the stripping tive .timing of the motions and mechanisms moremechanism when the take-up rollers and the feed rollers are operating, for it is at this time that the network is moving downwardly and. thereforethe relative movement between capsules and strippers is both greater and faster than if the strippers moved while the network was stationary. The mechanism of this inventionhas been found to be quite effective in removing capsules from the network and-furthermore the adjustments provided enable it to be set for different sizes and shapes of capsules. The. particular timing, above described may, however, be widely varied and I am not to be limited torelastrictly than as called for by the following claims.

It will be seen that the strippers 225 are adjustable relative to the network IE9, that isto change the width of the gap between them, and they. should preferably be adjusteclso that this gapwill be less than the dimension of the capsules 220 normal to the network ifiil. contact between the strippers and the capsules is ensured;

It willthus be seen that there has been provided byithis invention av feed, take-up and stripper'mechanism for encapsulating machines in which the variousobjects hereinaboveset forth:-

many thoroughly practical advan- In this manner tages are successfully achieved. As many possible embodiments may be made of the above invention and as many changes might be made in the embodiment above set forth, it is be understood that all matter hereinbefore set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. In an encapsulating mechanism, a pair of strippers one on either side of a network from which capsules were formed, intermittently operating driving mechanism to move said strippers to and fro in directions with and counter to the movement of said network, pairs of feeding and take-up rollers to move said network past said strippers, intermittently operating driving mechanism for said feeding and takeup rollers respectively, a main drive for all of said intermittent driving mechanisms, and a driving connection from the main drive to each of the intermittent driving mechanisms of one to one positive driving ratio and so set that the strippers move counter to the movement of the network only when at least one of said pairs of rollers is moving.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which a taut wire parallel to one of the strippers is I connected to one of the pair of strippers to move to and fro with it.

pers having straight stripper edges and deflecting portions connected thereto.

4. A stripper mechanism for encapsulating machines as claimed in claim 3 having additionally a taut wire parallel to the straight stripper edges and located on one side of the network close thereto.

5. A stripper mechanism for encapsulating machines comprisin a pair of parallel rods, a rock shaft connecting said rods, mechanism to oscillate said rods up and down on the axis of said rock shaft said rods being at some moment during the oscillation substantially perpendicular to network from which capsules were formed, a pair of fixed blocks secured to said rods one on each, a pair of slidableblocks on said rods one on each, spring means urging said slidable blocks towards said fixed blocks, adjustable stop means to adjust the position of the slidable blocks relative to the fixed blocks, a stripper connecting the pair of fixed blocks and secured to them said stripper being on one side of the network, and a stripper connecting the pair of slidable blocks and secured to them said stripper being on the other side of the network.

6. A stripper mechanism for encapsulating machines as claimed in claim 5 having additionally manually operable means for moving the slidable blocks away from the fixed blocks and holding them in removed position whereby to facilitate threading of the machine.

7. A stripper mechanism for encapsulating machines as claimed in claim 6 having additionally means to hold the strippers stationary in a given position when the slidable blocks are moved away from the fixed blocks.

8'. In an encapsulating machine, a pair of feed rollers, a pair of take-up rollers, intermittent driving mechanism to move said pairs of rollers in synchronized relationship so that for at least a portion of 'a cycle of machine operation they will be simultaneously moving and in such directions that ribbons and networkbetween them will be moved in a given direction, said pairs of rollers being parallel and spaced close to each other to grip and thereby feed said ribbons and network, a pair of strippers each having a straight edge, a mounting for each stripper holding the straight edge thereof close to and parallel to the plane of the network, said straight edges being separated from each other in the mid-position of each by a distance less than the thickness of a capsule, said mountings allowing each straight edge of each stripper to move in the given direction and in opposition thereto, and power means to move said straight edges in the given direction and in opposition thereto synchronously to the intermittent driving mechanism to move them in opposition to the aforesaid given direction only whenv both pairs of rollers are moving and never moving said straight edges in opposition to the given direction when both said pairs of rollers are stationary.

9. In apparatus as claimed in claim 8, the combination with the parts and features therein specified of the further feature that the strippers have deflecting portions having plane surfaces making obtuse dihedral angles to the feedingside of the plane of the network.

10- In apparatus as claimed in claim 8, the combination with the parts and features therein specified of the further feature that the strippers are moved simultaneously and at the, same rate.

11. In apparatus as claimed in claim 8, the combination with the parts and features therein specified of a taut Wire constituting a stripper in addition to the pair of strippersand positioned, parallel to the straight edges and connected to one of the pair of strippers to move with it.

12. In a stripping mechanism for an encapsulating machine having a cycle of operation, a pair of strippers one on each side of the network, means to reciprocate the strippers up and down during a portion of one cycle and to hold REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Scherer June 3, 1942 Number 

